Tag: Air Force

60-Second Sustains: The Mission Essential Group

Elizabeth N. Jochum and David L. Bodner ●

The Mission Essential Group
B-422698.2

  • Mission Essential challenged a task order solicitation issued by the Air Force, alleging the lowest price, technically acceptable (“LPTA”) evaluation scheme violated DFARS 215.101-2-70.
  • The DFARS provision establishes eight criteria, each of which must be met in order for a solicitation to employ an LPTA methodology.
  • It also requires that agencies “avoid, to the maximum extent practicable,” the use of LPTA procedures for procurements of “knowledge-based professional services.”
  • Mission Essential alleged the Air Force failed to meet at least three of the eight criteria allowing for LPTA and that LPTA procedures must be avoided given the type of services sought.
  • GAO sustained the protest, recommending the Air Force revise the solicitation to comply with DFARS 215.101-2-70 and request revised proposals.

60-Second Sustains: Criterion Corporation

Elizabeth N. Jochum ●

Criterion Corporation
B-422309

  • In Air Force procurement for base operations support services, the Agency had eliminated the protester from consideration for award on the basis that its proposed price was significantly lower than the internal government estimate (“IGE”) and the average proposed price and, therefore, was found unrealistic.
  • The protester challenged its elimination, arguing that it proposed a unique technical approach that supported its low price and that the agency ignored the technical approach, instead conducting a mechanical comparison of the proposed price to the IGE and the average price of other offerors.
  • GAO noted that the purpose of a price realism analysis is to determine whether proposed prices are realistic for the work to be performed, reflect a clear understanding of the requirements, and are consistent with the offeror’s unique method of performance.
  • In this case, GAO found that the Air Force had not considered the entirety of the protester’s technical solution when concluding the proposed price was unrealistic.
  • While the Agency had compared the number of employees the protester proposed and its labor rates, it had not considered its labor mix or whether its technical solution was unique.
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